Adjustable friction supporting device



Sept 14, 1948.' F. c. s'nEBER 2,449,424

AnJusTABLE FRIcTIoN SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 25, 194e 2 sheets-sheet 1 5 Y www Sept. E4, l948l F. c. sTlEBr-:R 2,449,424

ADJUSTABLE PB I-CTION SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 25, 194e 2 sheets-sheetv 2` Patented Sept. 14, 1948 oFFice ADJUSTABLE rnlo'rron sUrPonfrINo nevica Frank C. Stiebel', Marathon, Wis.

Application November 25, 1946, Serial No. 712,103

7 Claims. `1

My invention relates to adjustable friction supporting devices and has .for its primary object the `provision of devices oi this kind that are inexpensive .to manufacture, simple in construction, easy to install, extremely durable, positive in their supporting action, and capable of infinite adjustment within `given limits.

Another impor-tant object of the invention is the provision of a support including a beam .or equivalent supporting element, and means for adjustabl-y anchoring the same toa relatively fixed structure withV freedom for yadjusting movements oi 4one side .or end thereof with respect to the other. i

In the preferred `embodiment of the invention, illustrated, a beam, b-a-r, shelf, or ,equiv-aient supporting element is vertically adjustably supper-teder anchored to va relatively-fixed structure through the medium of supporting posts carried by the relatively-fixed structure and friction devices fadjustably connecting theA said `beam or equivalent supporting yelement to the support for up and down -sliding action thereon. Opposite ends -of the beam `or equivalent supporting element are adjustably independent, one of the other, on the supporting post and the improved arrangement has the further advantage oi being freely ladjustable on the supporting vposts irrespectiVe of some or even considerable angularity between .supporting posts at .opposite ends of the beam vor equivalent supporting element.

While .the invention -has been found `highly desirable for use as an` -adjustable body support for use in caskets and is .herein illustrated as such, it should, nevertheless, be understood that the invention is also adapted for a wide range of other uses, among which is an Aadjustable `support dor shelves and the like.

The above and numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

4In the accompanying drawings, like characters indica-telikejparts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings: i

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through alburial casket 'and illustrating a plurality .of :supporting devices of my invention used to support a body or `corpse therein through the medium of interposed loose ll, such 'as eXcelsior orthe like;

Fig. 2 isa view-corresponding closely to Fig 1, but with the corpse omitted andvillustrating `a mattress Aoverlying and directly supported by a plurality `of supporting devices 4ofthe instant invention; Y

Fig. `3 is :a transverse sectional View taken von the line `'eL-3,01? Fis. 2, -but showing the mattress and beams in raised and tilted positions, as;for thegpurpose of display;

`Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section on an enlarged scale taken on the line li-ll of Fig. 2,; Y

Fig. 5 is ya detailed section taken on the 'line 5 5 of Fig. 4,;

Fig. 6 is a View corresponding to Fig. 4, but showing my device .applied to an angular ,side wall;

Fig. 7 is Aa rear elevation of the supporting post;

Fig. -8 is a view vin perspective of the friction link of my supporting structure;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective View Dione end of the supporting beam of ,my device;

Fig. l0 is a view in perspective showing a modified form of supporting post;

Fig. 11,is air-agmentary View corresponding to 15tlg.. 4i, Asl'iowing .aurther modified form; .and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentaryview illustrating a slight modification .ofV the invention.

Qne .of the numerous uses of my .deviccs.as illustrated in the drawings, is its use .in the supporting .of a corpse within va casket, identified in its entirety by the numeral 1. Preferably, and as shown, a plurality ,of my adjustable supporting devices are Vspaced along the length of the casket 4at Aopposite sides, in order that `the body may be heldin .the ,desired ,position Within the .casket Afor Ypurposes .of display, transportation, vor -the like. As .shown in Figs. 1 and .2. lprovide` a I.plurality oi opposed pairs oi` upstand ing `supporting rposts `2 along opposite sides of I,the casket, .the ,bottom `ends `3 .ci which are anchored to the bottom 4 .of the casket, land the upper ends 5 of which are secured .to the side'l .of the casket. Theanchoringof these posts .2 to thecasketmay be by anyone .well-knownmethod, but when used in connection with wooden .caskets, anchorage of lthe bottom .ends .3 ,of ,the .postZ .is preferably accomplished .by sharpening the .said ends ,0i ,the post and driving tti-esame .into the bottom `.of the casket, Aand the upper .ends `of said ,posts `are preferably `anchored to the sides of such wooden caskets by screws, bolts ortho `like E, Inthe case of lmetal caskets, the postsmay beanchored at both ends .by screws or by welding ,or the like. Preferably, and as shown, the upper ends .5.0i posts v2 are provided with .supplemental gripping prongs f8 for projection into the side Walls L1 .of woodenfcaskets.

Cooperating with each pair `of posts Zis .a supporting Ibeam L9, preferably, and as shown. being :channel-shaped in cross section. The beams l) -are each supported from the post E2 by means .of friction Alinks 4 0 Yadjacent .each'end thereof. `Each ,of the .friction .links .l0l has Aan aperture .H adjacent `one -end thereof in which the supporting posts 1=2 Yare longitudinally .slidably mounted. On their opposite .,ends, friction links ,lo are -nlfovicledwith .angularly .disposed heads i2 having opposed .laterally y aligned load-` thereof. Said slot I'I is of a width to receive the head I2 of friction link II] when the same is turned substantially at right angles to its operating position, but is too narrow to allow passage therethrough of said head I2 when the head is in its operative position. In the operative position, the slot I'I receives the neck I4 and the shoulders I3 engage and support the bottom I5 of the beam 9 onboth sides of the slot I1.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the extreme outer ends of the supporting beams 9 project beyond the supporting posts 2 and are provided with outwardly opening elongated slots `I8 which receive the posts 2. interposed between the bottom I5 of beams 9 and the undersurface of friction links I II are compression coil springs I9 which' encompass the post 2. A Washer 2B' may be interposed, if found desirable, between the bottom end of coil spring I9 and the bottom I5 of the beam 9.

For the purpose of preventing partial rotation of the friction link II! with respect to the post 2, I preferably provide cooperating surfaces ZI and 22 in the aperture I I andk post 2 respectively.

Another feature of the invention which tends to prevent wobbling or rotation of the beam or friction link With respect to the supporting post 2 is the fact that the friction link I9 works closely within the Vconfines of the laterally-spaced side Walls I6 of the channel-shaped beam 9; and a still further feature tending to maintain a desired alignment of the friction link Iil and beani 9, in some fori-ns of the invention illustratedis engagement of opposite sides of beam slot I3 with the supporting postZ (seeFig. 6, for eXampleL In the preferred embodiment of the invention exemplified in Fig. 6, for example, I utilize all three of the above-described means for maintaining the elements against wobbling or ,partial rotation. However, a simplified form ofjconstruction may be used, if desired, and is shown in Fig; 10 wherein I illustrate a supporting bar 2' which is circular in cross section, and which is longitudinally slidably mounted in a circular aperture II ofthe frictionY link III. In this construction, the close cooperation between the linkIIlvand. the side walls ofthe channel 9,'together with the guiding action of the sides of slot I8 in the bottom I5 of the beam 9 with the post, are relied upon to maintain alignment of the link and beam.

In the modified form shown in Fig.V 1,1, a beam 9 terminates shortl of the post 2 and relies upon the .cooperation between thev friction link I0 and the sides I6 of channels', together with the cooperating surfaces 2 I and 22 in the friction link I0 vand post 2, respectively. As there shown, a coiljspring I9 has its upper end hooked over the top of thev link III adjacent the post 2 to bias the link III in a downward post-gripping direction.

`As hereinbefore stated, one or more sets of posts 2, with their cooperating friction links Iii and beams 9, are utilized, depending upon the nature of the article to be supported thereby. To raise one jor both ends of .a `supporting beam 9, it is but necessary to exert lifting pressure upon the beam, for when this is done, the spring of the lifted end of the beam will yield to permit releasing of the friction link and upward sliding action of the unit on the post. However, to lower either or both ends of a beam, it will be necessary to manually press the friction link toward the beam Y against the action of a cooperating spring and into approximately parallel relation with the beam in order to release the friction link from its gripping action on the post From the above, it will be apparent that both ends of the beam 9 may be adjusted to an infinite number of positions on its post.

In the event that it is necessary or desirable to secure either or both of the supporting posts 2 to a slanting wall, then and in that event, the reduced neck portion I4 of the friction link I9, and the post 2, operate in the longitudinally-extending slots I'I and I8 respectively to automatically compensate for changes in distance between posts 24 (see Fig. 6). 0f course, when one or the other ends of a beam are raised orV lowered with respectto the other thereof, this same compensating action will take place (see Fig. 3, for ex-4 ample).

In Fig.A 1, four setsrof my novel supportingrdevices are shown as being used to adjustably support a corpse through the medium of inexpensive loose fill, such as excelsior or hay a, covered with a thin layer of cotton batting b, these -supporting devices being located at the four critical supporting points. by reference to Fig. 2, all four of the beams 9- have been elevated to different positions in order to properly and positively support the corpse or body in the desired position. In Fig. 2,` the mattress c has been substituted for the loose lill and the cotton batting b or the like of Fig. 1, and while a Vconventional casket mattress may be used for this purpose, a mattress `having Vsomewhat firmerv qualities is preferably embodied so as to Yprovide a greater degree of support intermediate the spaced beams. Figs. 1 and 2 show the supporting devices positioned as for transportation of the body, whereas Fig. 3 shows the supporting beams 9 elevated 'and tilted to one side as for viewing or display of the body. While a mattress of Fig.` 2 is shown in Fig. 3, it will be appreciated that the same elevating and tilting results can be accomplished with the loose ll and padding of Fig. 1.

To either raise or lower the body or to tilt or otherwise vadjust the individual beams 9, it is only necessary for the operator to slip his hand alongside of the mattress or loose fill, as the case may be, and manipulate the ends of the beams 9A as previously described.

In the modification of Fig., 12, a, resilient friction ring Iay has been substituted for the spring I9 of Fig. 6, but otherwise the parts illustrated in Fig. 12 are identical to corresponding parts of Fig; 6, and are indicated by like characters. i The said friction ring I 9a of Fig. 12 may be of rubber,`

leather, or other resilient material and is applied around and snugly grips the post 2 -with sufficient friction `to move the friction link I D into positive gripping relation with the post 2 asl a result of downward pressure exerted on the beam I 6. However, the friction ring I9a will slide upwardly on the post as a result of manual lifting action on the beam I B. In this respect attentiony is called to the fact that the Washerlike friction ring I9a overlaps and will not pass through the open notch or slot I8 in the end'of the beam I6. K,

By reference to the drawings, it will be seen As will be seen, particularly that the angularly disposed heads l2 of the friction links l0 project considerably below the bottom surfaces of the beams 9 and 9', and by reference particularly to dotted lines in Fig. 6, it will be seen that these downwardly-projecting heads l2 of the friction links serve as legs to limit downward movements of the beams. This feature of the invention is important in that finger space is thus assured when the beams are in their lowermost positions, thus giving the operator easy access to the under surface of the beams for the purpose of lifting the same.

What I claim is:

1. An adjustable support comprising a friction link having a post-receiving aperture adjacent one end and opposed laterally-projecting loadbearing tongues adjacent its other end, a supporting post extending through the aperture of the friction link and mounting said link for sliding movements thereon, and a beam having an aperture adjacent one end through which the tongue-equipped end of the friction link extends, portions of the beam adjacent opposite edges of the said beam aperture being seated upon the said load-bearing tongues of the friction link, said beam aperture being of sufdcient length in a direction longitudinally of the friction link to receive the tongue-equipped end of the friction link when the friction link is turned approximately at right angles to its operative position.

2. An adjustable support comprising an elongated friction link having a post-receiving aperture adjacent one end and an angularly disposed head adjacent its other end, said head having opposed laterally aligned load-bearing shoulders, a supporting post extending through the aperture of the friction link and mounting said link for sliding movements thereon., and a beam having portions slidably bearing upon the loadbearing shoulders of the friction link head.

3. An adjustable support comprising a friction link having a post-receiving aperture adjacent one end and an angularly disposed head adjacent its other end, said head being formed to afford opposite laterally-extending load-bearing shoulders, a supporting post extending through the aperture of the friction link and mounting said link for sliding movements thereon, and a beam having an elongated parallel sided aperture adjacent one end through which the angularly disposed head of the friction link extends, portions of the beam adjacent opposite longitudinal edges of the beam aperture being seated upon the load-bearing shoulders of the friction link, whereby to permit vertical adjustments of the beam with respect to the post when the beam is diagonally disposed with respect to the post.

4. An adjustable support comprising a friction link having a post-receiving aperture adjacent one end and an angularly disposed head adjacent its other end, said head being formed to provide opposite laterally-projecting load-bearing shoulders, a supporting post extending through the aperture of the friction link and mounting said link for sliding movements thereon, a channel-shaped beam extended generally perpendicularly to the post, the side flanges of said channel-shaped beam embracing opposite sides of the friction link, the bottom of said channel-shaped beam being provided with a longitudinally extending elongated aperture through which the angularly disposed head end4 of the link is projected, the shoulder-equipped portion of the head being of greater width than the beam aperture, portions of the beam adjacent the aperture being slidably seated upon the shoulders of the link head, and yielding means biasing the friction link toward an inclined post gripping position.

` jacent its other end, said head being formed to afford opposite laterally-extending load-bearing shoulders, a supporting post extending through the aperture of the friction link and mounting said link for sliding movements thereon, and a beam having an elongated parallel sided aperture adjacent one end through which the angularly disposed head of the friction link extends, portions of the beam adjacent opposite longitudinal edges of the beam aperture being seated upon the load-bearing shoulders of the friction link, whereby to permit vertical adjustments of the beam with respect to the post when the beam is diagonally disposed with respect to the post, said beam projecting beyond the post and being provided with an elongated post-receiving aperture in the nature of a notch opening through the end of the bottom of the beam.

7. In a device of the class described, a friction link having a post-receiving "Aperture adjacent one end and a downturned head adjacent its other end having an upper surface providing a supporting shoulder upwardly spaced from its lower end, a supporting post extending through the aperture of the friction link and mounting said link for sliding movements thereon, and a beam apertured to receive a portion of the friction link adjacent the head of the friction link and seated upon the said shoulder provided by the friction link head, the depending head of the friction link serving to definitely limit downward adjusting movements of the beam on the post.

FRANK C. STIEBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Number 

